From the meeting between Sun Downs and Al-Ahly of Egypt
Al-Ahly of Egypt is on the verge of being eliminated from the group stage of the African Champions League, after losing 5-2 to its South African host, Sun Downs, today, Saturday.
Al-Ahly’s balance stopped at four points in the second group, six points behind leaders Sun Downs, who qualified for the quarter-finals.
Al-Hilal of Sudan, second in the standings with nine points, will guarantee qualification if it defeats Sun Downs in the next round, when Al-Ahly will visit Al-Qatan Sport, Cameroon, bottom of the standings, without a balance.
And Sun Downs needed only four minutes to open the scoring with a shot from Marcelo Allende from outside the penalty area.
However, Al-Ahly equalized with a shot by Mohamed Sharif from a solitary position in the 13th minute.
Themba Zwane restored the lead for the hosts with a close-range shot in the 24th minute.
Tobuho Mokoena fired a stunning shot from outside the penalty area, which goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy contented himself with watching it settle into his own net five minutes before the break.
And Percy Tau revived Al-Ahly’s hopes to reduce the difference after a great start after 61 minutes.
But Peter Shaluleli brought back memories of the historic 5-0 victory over Al-Ahly in April 2019 with two goals in the last 18 minutes.
Shaluleli made the score 4-2 with a shot from inside the penalty area after a mistake by Al-Ahly defense in the 72nd minute.
Shaluli concluded the goals when he dodged Mohamed Abdel Moneim and hit El Shennawy’s net as he left to meet him two minutes from the end.
And Al-Ahly needed to win the next two matches against Al-Qattan in Cameroon and Al-Hilal in Cairo, with Sun Downs not losing to Al-Hilal in Sudan in order to have a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.
